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A Dreadful Temptation
A Dreadful Temptation

Chapter XXIII

Cover illustration for A Dreadful Temptation
Context Illustration Reading 1/17 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"Xenie, is that you?
Are you just home from the ball?"
Mrs. Carroll turned sleepily on her pillow and looked at the little figure that came gliding in, looking ghost-like in the pale glimmer of the night-lamp in its trailing white robes and unbound hair.
"Yes, mamma, it is I. But I have been home several hours from the ball."
"And not asleep yet, dear?" said Mrs. Carroll, in mild surprise.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

A Dreadful Temptation

Chapter XXIII

Reading 1/17 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"Xenie, is that you?
Line 2
Are you just home from the ball?"
Line 3
Mrs. Carroll turned sleepily on her pillow and looked at the little figure that came gliding in, looking ghost-like in the pale glimmer of the night-lamp in its trailing white robes and unbound hair.
Line 4
"Yes, mamma, it is I. But I have been home several hours from the ball."
Line 5
"And not asleep yet, dear?" said Mrs. Carroll, in mild surprise.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “"Yes, mamma, it is I. But I have been home several hours from the ball."”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “"Yes, mamma, it is I. But I have been home several hours from the ball."”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Mrs. Carroll turned sleepily on her pillow and looked at the little figure that came gliding in, looking ghost-like in the pale glimmer of the night-lamp in its trailing white robes and unbound hair.”

Looked noun US /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Mrs. Carroll turned sleepily on her pillow and looked at the little figure that came gliding in, looking ghost-like in the pale glimmer of the night-lamp in its trailing white robes and unbound hair.”

Several noun US /ˈseveral/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “"Yes, mamma, it is I. But I have been home several hours from the ball."”

Unbound adjective US /ʌnˈbaʊnd/

Released from physical or magical bonds; free and unrestricted.

From this reading “Mrs. Carroll turned sleepily on her pillow and looked at the little figure that came gliding in, looking ghost-like in the pale glimmer of the night-lamp in its trailing white robes and unbound hair.”

Yet conjunction US /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading “"And not asleep yet, dear?" said Mrs. Carroll, in mild surprise.”

All words in this reading · 53

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading Mrs. Carroll turned sleepily on her pillow and looked at the little figure that came gliding in, looking ghost-like in the pale glimmer of the night-lamp in its trailing white robes and unbound hair.

Areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Are you just home from the ball?"

asleep

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "And not asleep yet, dear?" said Mrs. Carroll, in mild surprise.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Mrs. Carroll turned sleepily on her pillow and looked at the little figure that came gliding in, looking ghost-like in the pale glimmer of the night-lamp in its trailing white robes and unbound hair.

ball

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Are you just home from the ball?"

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading "Yes, mamma, it is I. But I have been home several hours from the ball."

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading "Yes, mamma, it is I. But I have been home several hours from the ball."

came

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Mrs. Carroll turned sleepily on her pillow and looked at the little figure that came gliding in, looking ghost-like in the pale glimmer of the night-lamp in its trailing white robes and unbound hair.

Carroll

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Mrs. Carroll turned sleepily on her pillow and looked at the little figure that came gliding in, looking ghost-like in the pale glimmer of the night-lamp in its trailing white robes and unbound hair.

dear

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "And not asleep yet, dear?" said Mrs. Carroll, in mild surprise.

figure

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Mrs. Carroll turned sleepily on her pillow and looked at the little figure that came gliding in, looking ghost-like in the pale glimmer of the night-lamp in its trailing white robes and unbound hair.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Are you just home from the ball?"

ghost-like

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Mrs. Carroll turned sleepily on her pillow and looked at the little figure that came gliding in, looking ghost-like in the pale glimmer of the night-lamp in its trailing white robes and unbound hair.

gliding

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Mrs. Carroll turned sleepily on her pillow and looked at the little figure that came gliding in, looking ghost-like in the pale glimmer of the night-lamp in its trailing white robes and unbound hair.

glimmer

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Mrs. Carroll turned sleepily on her pillow and looked at the little figure that came gliding in, looking ghost-like in the pale glimmer of the night-lamp in its trailing white robes and unbound hair.

hair

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Mrs. Carroll turned sleepily on her pillow and looked at the little figure that came gliding in, looking ghost-like in the pale glimmer of the night-lamp in its trailing white robes and unbound hair.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading "Yes, mamma, it is I. But I have been home several hours from the ball."

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading Mrs. Carroll turned sleepily on her pillow and looked at the little figure that came gliding in, looking ghost-like in the pale glimmer of the night-lamp in its trailing white robes and unbound hair.

home

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Are you just home from the ball?"

hours

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "Yes, mamma, it is I. But I have been home several hours from the ball."

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading "Yes, mamma, it is I. But I have been home several hours from the ball."

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading Mrs. Carroll turned sleepily on her pillow and looked at the little figure that came gliding in, looking ghost-like in the pale glimmer of the night-lamp in its trailing white robes and unbound hair.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading "Xenie, is that you?

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "Yes, mamma, it is I. But I have been home several hours from the ball."

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Mrs. Carroll turned sleepily on her pillow and looked at the little figure that came gliding in, looking ghost-like in the pale glimmer of the night-lamp in its trailing white robes and unbound hair.

just

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Are you just home from the ball?"

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Mrs. Carroll turned sleepily on her pillow and looked at the little figure that came gliding in, looking ghost-like in the pale glimmer of the night-lamp in its trailing white robes and unbound hair.

lookednounUS /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Mrs. Carroll turned sleepily on her pillow and looked at the little figure that came gliding in, looking ghost-like in the pale glimmer of the night-lamp in its trailing white robes and unbound hair.

looking

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Mrs. Carroll turned sleepily on her pillow and looked at the little figure that came gliding in, looking ghost-like in the pale glimmer of the night-lamp in its trailing white robes and unbound hair.

mamma

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "Yes, mamma, it is I. But I have been home several hours from the ball."

mild

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "And not asleep yet, dear?" said Mrs. Carroll, in mild surprise.

Mrs

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Mrs. Carroll turned sleepily on her pillow and looked at the little figure that came gliding in, looking ghost-like in the pale glimmer of the night-lamp in its trailing white robes and unbound hair.

night-lamp

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Mrs. Carroll turned sleepily on her pillow and looked at the little figure that came gliding in, looking ghost-like in the pale glimmer of the night-lamp in its trailing white robes and unbound hair.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading "And not asleep yet, dear?" said Mrs. Carroll, in mild surprise.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Mrs. Carroll turned sleepily on her pillow and looked at the little figure that came gliding in, looking ghost-like in the pale glimmer of the night-lamp in its trailing white robes and unbound hair.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Mrs. Carroll turned sleepily on her pillow and looked at the little figure that came gliding in, looking ghost-like in the pale glimmer of the night-lamp in its trailing white robes and unbound hair.

pale

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Mrs. Carroll turned sleepily on her pillow and looked at the little figure that came gliding in, looking ghost-like in the pale glimmer of the night-lamp in its trailing white robes and unbound hair.

pillow

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Mrs. Carroll turned sleepily on her pillow and looked at the little figure that came gliding in, looking ghost-like in the pale glimmer of the night-lamp in its trailing white robes and unbound hair.

robes

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Mrs. Carroll turned sleepily on her pillow and looked at the little figure that came gliding in, looking ghost-like in the pale glimmer of the night-lamp in its trailing white robes and unbound hair.

said

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "And not asleep yet, dear?" said Mrs. Carroll, in mild surprise.

several

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "Yes, mamma, it is I. But I have been home several hours from the ball."

sleepily

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Mrs. Carroll turned sleepily on her pillow and looked at the little figure that came gliding in, looking ghost-like in the pale glimmer of the night-lamp in its trailing white robes and unbound hair.

surprise

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "And not asleep yet, dear?" said Mrs. Carroll, in mild surprise.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "Xenie, is that you?

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading Are you just home from the ball?"

trailing

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Mrs. Carroll turned sleepily on her pillow and looked at the little figure that came gliding in, looking ghost-like in the pale glimmer of the night-lamp in its trailing white robes and unbound hair.

turned

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Mrs. Carroll turned sleepily on her pillow and looked at the little figure that came gliding in, looking ghost-like in the pale glimmer of the night-lamp in its trailing white robes and unbound hair.

unboundadjectiveUS /ʌnˈbaʊnd/

Released from physical or magical bonds; free and unrestricted.

From this reading Mrs. Carroll turned sleepily on her pillow and looked at the little figure that came gliding in, looking ghost-like in the pale glimmer of the night-lamp in its trailing white robes and unbound hair.

white

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Mrs. Carroll turned sleepily on her pillow and looked at the little figure that came gliding in, looking ghost-like in the pale glimmer of the night-lamp in its trailing white robes and unbound hair.

Xenie

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "Xenie, is that you?

Yes

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "Yes, mamma, it is I. But I have been home several hours from the ball."

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading "And not asleep yet, dear?" said Mrs. Carroll, in mild surprise.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Xenie, is that you?